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Trip from Lincoln, VT to Montpelier, VT

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

35.7 mi

57 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Addison County, Vermont, United States

Lincoln, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Montpelier, VT, VT

Montpelier, VT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Lincoln to Montpelier, you are looking at a manageable 35.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough to avoid the need for an overnight stay. You will traverse the Northeast region, utilizing a combination of Lincoln Gap Road, Vermont Route 100B, and Main Street to reach the capital. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, this is a highly economical way to travel between these two Vermont towns. The drive offers a straightforward, mixed-road experience that is easy to navigate for those familiar with the local area. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the modest duration makes it a stress-free transition between locations.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Vermont Route 100B 7.9 mi 13m
Main Street 7.8 mi 13m
Lincoln Gap Road 7.7 mi 16m
I 89 5.3 mi 6m
Vermont Route 100 2.9 mi 5m
Memorial Drive 1.2 mi 2m
East River Road 1.1 mi 2m
U.S. Route 2 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Vermont Route 100B — 7.9 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, VT and Montpelier, VT.

1

Start on Quaker Street

89 ft · 2 sec · Quaker Street
2

Turn slight left onto East River Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · East River Road
3

Continue on Lincoln Gap Road

7.7 mi · 16 min · Lincoln Gap Road
4

Turn straight onto VT 100

2.9 mi · 5 min · Vermont Route 100
5

Continue on VT 100

7.6 mi · 13 min · Main Street
6

Continue on VT 100

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Vermont Route 100 South
7

Continue on VT 100B

7.9 mi · 13 min · Vermont Route 100B
8

Turn left onto US 2

0.5 mi · 1 min · U.S. Route 2
9

Turn slight right

145 ft · 6 sec
10

Turn straight onto Center Road

241 ft · 5 sec · Center Road
11

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
12

Merge onto I 89

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 89
13

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 8 Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
14

Continue on Memorial Drive

1.2 mi · 2 min · Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
15

Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Main Street
16

Arrive at destination

VT 12; US 2 Business

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Washington County, Vermont, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waitsfield, VT

18 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

East Montpelier Center, VT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waitsfield, VT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Lincoln, VT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 5

5 decision points cluster between mile 27.6 and 35.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
27.6 mi into trip | ~52m in | US 2 / U.S. Route 2

Turn left onto US 2 / U.S. Route 2

Navigation decision point

4
28.2 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

3
28.4 mi into trip | ~54m in | I 89

Merge onto I 89

Merge point - match speed before joining

6
33.7 mi into trip | ~1h in

Take the exit toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 8 Toward US 2: Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
4
35.5 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street

Turn left onto VT 12; US 2 Business / Main Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.75 one way

$11.49 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $6.32 $12.65
premium $4.86 $6.84 $13.67
diesel $5.61 $7.88 $15.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.7 0 $3.75 $1.71
Efficient EV 8.9 0 $3.12 $1.43
EV Truck/SUV 14.3 0 $5.00 $2.28

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Lincoln, VT

Late night in Lincoln on Sunday

Local time

4:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Montpelier, VT

Late night in Montpelier on Sunday

Local time

4:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

21 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 3m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a varied driving experience that blends local roads with more substantial stretches. Roughly 48% of your travel occurs on highways, providing a balanced mix of slower-paced local driving and more consistent cruising. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted segment while navigating a 7.9-mile stretch on Vermont Route 100B. The character of the road shifts as you transition from the smaller local lanes onto the highway, requiring you to adjust your speed accordingly. Because this is a mixed drive, you should stay alert to the changing road types as you make your way through the Vermont countryside.

48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.9 mi on Vermont Route 100B.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.6 miles in near US 2 / U.S. Route 2.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 3m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 27.6 miles (US 2 / U.S. Route 2): Navigation decision point; at 28.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 28.4 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,046 ft 521 ft

Total Climb

1,151 ft

Total Descent

1,601 ft

Highest Point

2,046 ft

~5.1 mi in

Elevation Range

1,524 ft

Notable High Points

2,046 ft at ~5.1 miles +585 ft prominence

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Lincoln, VT to Montpelier, VT, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Johnsbury along the way.

Saint Johnsbury

33.7 mi in | ~1h

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 7.9 miles on Vermont Route 100B. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through VT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

The main spots that need attention: at 27.6 miles (US 2 / U.S. Route 2): Navigation decision point; at 28.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 28.4 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montpelier, VT before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Montpelier, VT to Lincoln, VT

Plan the drive back the other way.

35.5 mi 1h 3m

Explore more options from Lincoln, VT or browse trips ending in Montpelier, VT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse VT road trips.